Gordon Brown: Conservatives close to being ‘Powellite’ on immigration

Gordon Brown has accused the Tories of adopting Enoch Powell-style rhetoric on immigration in their efforts to fight off advances by Ukip.

The former prime minister claimed the Tories had become “very close to being Powellite” on immigration policies as they hardened their stance on Europe and welfare and performed a series of U-turns including on alcohol pricing in a shift to the right of British politics.

Giving his first major Labour party speech since leaving Downing Street in May 2010, Brown unveiled his party’s campaign against Scottish independence by aggressively distancing Labour from the Tories, its main partner in the pro-UK Better Together coalition.